BINOCULAR THIEF?

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 70, 15 December 1937, Page 4

BINOCULAR THIEF?

Boy Who Borroiws Field* Glasses HOUSEHOLDERS HOAXED A fioy with a penchant for binocmlari is being sought by headmasters 6nd teachers of a namber of schools in Hastings. He has been responSible for placing these pedagogues in -an embarrassing position as the result of n prank, the reason for which is most difficult to understand. The procedure, as far ais can b# ascertained, is for this boy, who from reports appears to be past the prito&ry school age, but possesses an intimate knowledge of the school staffs, to visit a house near the school and asks the housewife for a loan of a pair of bifioculars. The reason given for the request is that Mr (a teachef 4t the school) desires to give the clasS a lesson in nature staidy and the school has no binocularg. In a number of instances, it is stated, the request has been acceded to, and more than one housewife has had to "take a fap" from the man of the house. ln some instances, with praiseworthy desire to do all that was possible to help the children in their , studies, the housewife has gone to considerable trouble and time to secure th# loan of a pair of binoculars from a friend or neighboar. Wi.th the closing of the school year, lenders of these valuable afticffis naturally began to make inquiries about the return of their property, and not unnaturally were rather aggrieved that the school authorities liad not returned them. It was only juSt during the past few days that these inquiries were made, and with them came the revelation that on no Occasion had the teachers, or members of the staff made such requ'ests. Needless to say, there is considerable coucern felt, not only by those who lent the articleB, but by the teachers. Bfforts to trace the boy cOncertted have not been successful as yet, but one or two of the binoculars have been reeovered, and it is in this direction that a further mystery is provided. The ai'ticles sn far reeo-vered have been found under hedges, obviously having been discarded. "Why any boy should go to all the trouble of making the request, with the obvious danger involved, and then dispose of the articles as thougn useless^ is difficult to understand.